Chapter 25: The Serpent in the Shadows

"Yugi! Breakfast is on the table!"

"Be down in a second, Grandpa!"

A door slammed shut, and footsteps sounded hurriedly on the staircase. Yugi appeared in the kitchen just long enough to snatch a piece of toast from his plate. He held it in his mouth while he shrugged his arms through his jacket.

His grandpa stood by with his lunchbox in hand. "Don't you want to sit down to eat that?"

"Can't, 'm g'nna be late!" Yugi mumbled around the toast. He shoved the lunchbox into his schoolbag. "T'anks, Gr'ndpa!"

His eye caught something on the table, and he stilled a moment, taking the bread from his mouth.

"Grandpa, you made three plates again."

Grandpa Muto turned sharply. "Oh, damn." He whisked the third plate to the counter and offered Yugi a sheepish grin. "Old age, makes one forgetful, you know…"

Yugi smiled back. "It's all right, Grandpa." He shifted his bag over his shoulder and made for the door.

"Be careful, it's still icy out there!"

Yugi waved in reply, and the door swung shut. Grandpa scraped the contents of the plate on the counter onto his own, gazing at it a little forlornly. Then, shaking himself, he sat and started to eat.

"It's real."

"It's fake."

"My dad was there! He saw him for real! This is his autograph!"

"Tristan, you can't expect me to believe that this—" Joey flicked and caught the baseball card in his hand, "—is an authentic signature."

"Why not? It's his signature, isn't it?"

"There are tons of baseball cards with fake signatures nowadays. Your dad probably bought it cheap off some online thing."

"Why d'you gotta be like that, Joey? Give it here, I'll show you." Tristan's hand swiped at the card, and Joey held it just out of reach.

"Ah, not so fast, buddy. Sure, it might be real, but we hafta make sure. Fortunately, I got a nice chemistry kit back home that'll prove once and fer all if it's fake or not."

"You were failing chemistry last I checked, and you haven't touched a kit since never! C'mon, it's obvious you know it's real, you're just trying to keep it for yourself!" Tristan made another dive for the card, and Joey jogged out of reach, which turned it into a full-on chase. Fortunately the sidewalk was clear, or Yugi might have called them to stop before they ran into a passer-by. As it was, the only thing they might have had to worry about is slipping in the snow.

Three months, and winter was trailing to an end. The snowfall that had come the day before had been projected to be the last big one of the season. Already Yugi had started to feel warmer breezes, signaling the onset of spring. It was nice to not have to worry about scarves anymore, as the steel of the Millennium Puzzle's chain no longer bit against his skin.

The school gate was coming into sight. At one side stood a thin figure, anxiously fidgeting as if waiting for someone.

Yugi slowed almost to a stop, his smile fading. At his side, Téa glanced between him and the man worriedly. Then Yugi steeled his face into impassiveness and strode through the gate, determinedly not looking up.

"Yugi!"

Yugi stopped, and turned to face Professor Keichi. He knew what he was here for, as he had been several times over the past few months. He spoke before Keichi could start.

"Professor, I don't want to hear it."

"Yugi, I know I haven't got much of a right to ask, but please, if you'd just listen to me one more time—"

"Hey." Joey, having abandoned his game with Tristan, fisted the Professor's shirt and dragged him away. "He says he didn't wanna hear it."

"Let him go, Joey!" Yugi looked around worriedly. Fortunately, no one had noticed.

At his word, Joey released Keichi, though he remained intimidatingly close. Nearby, Tristan stood ready to jump at his command. Yugi resisted rolling his eyes.

"Listen, guys, you all go on ahead. I'll meet you in class."

"Yug, you don't gotta stay out here with this—"

"I'll be fine, Joey."

At that, they reluctantly obeyed, with Téa patting his shoulder as she left.

Yugi swept his eyes over the professor. He looked thin, more than usual, and his clothing was more rumpled than Joey's roughhousing could take credit for.

"How are you doing, Professor?" Yugi asked.

Keichi smiled wanly at the implied concern. "I'm getting along. Research of this business has never been of the money-making variety, so I've learned to find…other jobs, when times are scarce."

His hands—shaking, Yugi noticed—clasped together in front of him. "Yugi, I know you have no reason to listen to me. But…but if you could give me one more chance…"

"Professor…"

"I know I've got it right this time! I've gone over everything, triple-checked, quadruple, I know it can work! There can be modifications to the body, upgrades for the chambers. I was so close last time, I know that if you give me one more chance…"

He trailed off with a look so pleading, it tugged brutally at Yugi's heartstrings. He swallowed down his pity, painfully.

"I can't," he said.

Keichi deflated, then nodded. "I had to give it one last try," he admitted. "Then…I just wanted to say…I'm sorry. For…for everything. And for what it's worth…thank you for giving me a chance."

He started to turn away, and Yugi groaned. He felt he had to say something comforting to the man. "Professor, listen," he began, and Keichi halted in his movement, looking hopeful.

"What you did…I know your intentions weren't bad. And I am…we are…grateful, for the time you gave us." Yugi gave a glace sideways to the ghostly figure standing some ways away, his back turned to the pair of them. "We just can't risk it again."

Keichi nodded. "I understand."

Yugi watched until his frame had disappeared beyond the gate. He approached the Pharaoh with a worried look. This was the first his other self had appeared in several weeks. Since their reunion, he'd hardly made himself known at all, confining himself to his Soul Room. Yugi's attempts to speak with him had been rewarded with only single-worded answers, or only the barest feeling of acknowledgement.

Other Me?

When there was no response, he took a breath and dared to reach out through their link.

Yugi shuddered when a wave of cold washed over him, and he was submerged into the memories of that day.

Breathe.

Breathe.

Didn't know where he was—

Breathe.

Soft. Hot. Cold. Too dark to see—

Breathe.

When he got to him, he would KILL him for this! How DARE he subject him to—!

Breathe.

Breathe.

Breathe…

"BREATHE, Yugi!" He awoke to a sharp pain in his chest, and Joey's desperate voice in his ears. He gave a strangled gasp that turned into violent coughing, and someone turned him on his side. He lay there, gulping in air like a drowned man brought to shore.

"Just keep breathin', man." Joey's voice broke with relief. Someone petted his head, and Yugi flinched. That touch had been like electricity, a wire dragging through his nerves. He felt so sensitive, as if a live current had been run through him and left there to burn.

"It's all right, son. Just take it easy…" Grandpa's wavering voice joined his friend's. "Easy, lad, you don't need to hold onto the Puzzle so hard…"

He only gripped it tighter to himself. He hadn't realized he'd been holding it until Grandpa said so, but as soon as he did it was all Yugi could think about. He curled in on himself, the Puzzle at his center. There were voices all around him, and a cacophony in his head. His thoughts had an echo to them. He needed to recover, to find the ones that did this to his partner, and as soon as he did he'd tear them asunder…

No, that wasn't him, he didn't want to hurt anyone…

"Yugi?" Someone gripped his shoulder.

"Don't TOUCH HIM!" Yugi snarled. His voice was low, but seemed caught between his own and the Pharaoh's. Streaks of gold seemed to flash in and out of his hair.

"Tell him to focus." A faraway voice spoke, and it only made Yugi burn hotter with rage. "It was a hasty process. Their souls are probably tangled. You have to make Yugi separate, or he might be swallowed up by the Pharaoh's soul."

No. No, no, they wanted to take him away, they were going to tear them apart again…

"It's okay, Yugi." Tea's voice, gentler than the rest. "We're not taking him away. He's right there with you, you just have to find him…"

Yes…he had to find him. He ran through the halls, opening door after door, searching. He could feel his other self, their link a red-hot string urging him forward, until…

"OTHER ME!"

He burst into the Pharaoh's Soul Room with a cry, and fell upon the ground. There, in front of him, was a familiar figure, hunched in the center of the shadowy room.

"Other Me…"He stumbled forward. He placed his arms around the trembling frame, which stilled at his touch.

"Aibou…?"

"I'm here, Other Me." Another tremor ran through the Pharaoh. "You made it. You're safe."

The Pharaoh's fists clenched, white-knuckled, against the floor. "I thought…I'd…"

"You're safe," Yugi repeated.

Slowly, the Pharaoh stood. He used Yugi's shoulder to brace himself, and when he was upright he kept a tight grip, squeezing until it hurt. Yugi winced, but didn't pull away. He offered a reassuring smile. "I'm not going anywhere, Other Me."

His smile faded at the Pharaoh's expression. His sharp red gaze was wide and faraway, searching for a horror Yugi couldn't see.

"Did you not feel it, Yugi?" he whispered. "For a moment…we were not alone."

Yugi shook himself. He looked around, realizing with a start he wasn't outside anymore. Inexplicably, he was at his desk in his classroom. A quick glance at the clock told him he was already well into his second period, with lunch break approaching soon. He quietly released a shuddering breath. He hadn't lost time like that in ages…

Aibou?

The Pharaoh's outline appeared in the corner of his eye. Years of training himself not to look into empty space for seemingly no reason kept his gaze forward, but he still gave a soft smile.

I'm guessing you kept things running while I was out?

An apology fluttered through the link. I did not mean to overwhelm you, Aibou. But the appearance of Keichi was itself…triggering.

Inwardly Yugi shook his head. Don't worry about it. I just hope you didn't have a problem with the teachers.

The Pharaoh chuckled, a sound Yugi hadn't heard in a long time, and it was a relief to hear.

We were only called upon once during mathematics, and I managed a passable approximation of your voice so as to not arouse suspicion. Fortunately this level of geometry is not difficult to figure out. Literature has been a tad harder, I will admit. A pity the West had not yet happened upon Egypt during my time, or I might have had a better job following these English texts.

Yugi took comfort in his voice. Such easy conversation was promising after months of silence. He pretended to concentrate on the open book in front of him as an excuse to briefly slip into his Soul Room, where he could meet the Pharaoh face-to-face. There they sat in the pleasure of each other's company until it was time for lunch, and Yugi roused himself to join his friends at the rooftop.

There were many questions he wanted to ask the Pharaoh. But they were heavy and troublesome subjects, and he did not want to ruin this much-needed period of peace.

But later that week, on a night when he couldn't sleep, Yugi finally brought up what had been bothering him the most.

Other Me…do you think we were wrong to trust Professor Keichi?

The Pharaoh sat, as ever, as a ghostly outline on the edge of Yugi's covers. He gazed across the room to the other bed which had briefly been his own. A month after the incident, Grandpa and Yugi had agreed they should move Isashi Muto's things to the basement, or else give them away. There was, after all, no longer any need for them. A story was invented that Yugi's brother had gone back to live with his father, and while there were a number of voiced regrets, the populace soon accepted it and moved on.

They had not yet gotten around to moving the bed, however. It was an odd feeling sometimes for Yugi to wake up and see a spare bed in his room with nobody in it. Occasionally he would forget and think Isashi was already downstairs for breakfast…then he would remember the Pharaoh was right there, still with him.

He hadn't dared to ask how the Pharaoh was feeling about all this yet. But seeing the melancholy in his eyes, Yugi could guess.

I cannot say, Aibou, the Pharaoh answered at last. There has been something off about all of this from the start, something I cannot place. I admit, I could never rid myself of that uneasiness. But the months I spent with you as Isashi… I enjoyed that time very much. His gaze grew wistful.

Yugi's heart ached in sympathy. The Pharaoh smiled back, and though Yugi couldn't feel it, he patted his partner's leg. Get some rest, Aibou. These last few weeks haven't been easy on you.

A yawn overcame him even as the Pharaoh spoke, and they both chuckled. Yugi snuggled under the covers. "I'm just amazed that was it."

What do you mean?

"Well, don't things like this usually happen before someone tries to take over the world or something?"

Hm. Be careful what you wish for, Aibou.

The Pharaoh watched him until his breathing became slow and even, then returned his gaze to the other bed.

After a while, as if on a whim, he crossed the room and settled his form down upon the covers.

He could still remember the feeling of his weight upon the mattress…the blankets snug around him and keeping his warmth. When he closed his eyes, he could almost feel the softness of the comforter beneath him.

Perhaps it was never meant to be…perhaps it had only been a fantasy to indulge in, not meant to endure. Not that he expected this to last, anyways. Yet when he raised his transparent hand, he found himself longing for something lost.

It wasn't the same as before, when he was focused on regaining his memories. That was a duty, a purpose. This was a base feeling, an aching so deep it came from his very core. It was so very selfish, and the Pharaoh realized this was perhaps the first time he had ever wanted something for himself, and himself alone. Having his own body had reminded him what it had been like to be alive. After being dead for five thousand years, it had been like taking a first breath, painful and so, so glorious, and he wanted it. Suddenly, the idea of having a life of his own didn't seem so bad.

The Pharaoh sat up and shook away those thoughts before he could get lost in them. No…no, he had known from the beginning it wasn't going to be this way. He was destined for something far greater than himself or his wants. The past few months didn't change that.

But it had been nice, for a time, to pretend.

Keichi sat in the dark of his own living room, thoroughly drunk.

Around him, his notes and papers lay strewn carelessly about the floor. Every now and then he'd leaf through them, select one and hold it up, then toss it away as he knocked back another drink. Then he reached forward and pick up the green stone lying on the table.

Somehow, even in the dark, it gleamed. He held it up close to his eyes and glared at it. All of it, months of effort, all with this at the center. The secret to his success. But now, it was over. Years of research, of persevering despite ridicule from his peers, and it had come to this. He had gambled it all on Yugi…and lost.

Truth be told, he never thought he'd get this far. Mice and rats were one thing. But to find an actual human subject, willing or otherwise…it had never been anything more than theory, until Solomon Muto introduced him to his grandson. Meeting Yugi and the Pharaoh had been a godsend. For once in his life, things were finally looking up.

But like always, it ended in failure.

He gulped down another shot, and poured another. He didn't drink, normally. This bottle of sake had been in his cupboard for ten years, a party gift he hadn't been able to refuse, and it was cheap, besides. But it was good enough. He could hardly hold his head up anymore.

It wasn't as if this was any surprise, he mused morosely…It had been a far-fetched idea from the start. At best, it was so ridiculous his peers thought it to be fiction rather than actual research material. At worst…He had actually received a few death threats from those who believed he was meddling in affairs he shouldn't. Saying he was trespassing into God's domain and whatnot. Well. That was a mark of a progressive researcher, if you were intimidating the public with your work, wasn't it?

At least, he comforted himself in saying so. But that didn't matter anymore. None of it mattered. Blasphemy or not, it was over. Finished, gone, kaput.

He'd thought he'd found his future in the rubble that day. But all it'd brought was ruin.

His fingers closed around the stone, his fist trembling. Bile and revulsion rose up in his throat and in rage, he flung the stone as far as his drunken stupor could allow.

It didn't get very far. A hand snatched it out of the shadows. A woman followed, stepping noiselessly around the papers.

The stone clattered on the table in front of Keichi, and he jumped at the noise. Whirling around, he flung out a hand to keep himself steady as he blinked up at his assistant, Yamamoto.

"Yamam'to!" he slurred. He offered a lopsided smile. "Come to join me? Sit, sit." He patted the space next to him. "Sorry about the mess. I'll clean it up in a minute…"

He stared around at his table, and his eyes landed on the stone. Hadn't he thrown that away?

He reached forward, and his hand closed on the sake bottle. He offered it to his assistant. "Care for a drink? Here, sit down. I'm celebrating the end of an era."

Yamamoto didn't take it. He frowned at her, then nodded in understanding. "Right, sorry. Don't worry, I think I've got another glass somewhere…"

He rolled to his side, struggled twice to his feet, failed, and reached for the bottle again.

"How long has it been since we met?" he asked as he poured himself another shot. "Two years? No…shorter, I think. I thought it'd be longer." He drank deeply. "I thought everything would last longer. I thought we'd be on the start of something amazing. But, like all good things, it came to an end." He poured from the bottle again, but only a few drops ran out. He peered inside, confused, then set it down with a clatter. "Did you want a drink? Hold on, I think I've got another bottle…"

He finally managed to stand and started for the kitchen.

"I await your orders."

Keichi staggered back around when he heard Yamamoto speak. His assistant stared at him with that same sharp, piercing gaze. He hated the way she stared like that. Like a hawk staring reproachfully at a piece of spoiled meat.

"My…orders?" he asked, finally realizing what she'd said. He waved an arm in her general direction. "I don't have any orders for you. Didn't you hear me? We're celebrating…an end. Hence the drinking." He raised his glass to her.

She didn't reply, or move, which irked him. "If you're not gonna sit down, then go home."

"I await your orders," she repeated.

"I don't have any orders," Keichi said louder, growing angry. "I'm never gonna have any more orders! We're done, you hear? That's it! I'm not working anymore, which means you aren't either. Do you get that?"

She remained still, her face expressionless. Keichi growled and took a couple of drunken steps towards her, shouting now. "You're fired! Will that make you go away? Tell Kaguchi too! He's fired! You probably screwed something up anyways! That's right, if it hadn't been for your incompetence, I wouldn't be out of a job! Nobody's gonna take me seriously now! It's over!"

He halted a foot away, panting hard. He suddenly felt dizzy, and he slowly sank towards the floor. He could feel his blood rushing through his head, roaring in his ears. A great depression suddenly swept over him, and he sighed deeply.

"No…it wasn't your fault. It was mine. I screwed up, I probably screwed it all up from the start. It was never meant to be." He covered his face with one hand. "I'm sorry."

"Master."

Yamamoto sank down on one knee. Confused, Keichi looked up, his hand dropping.

She pressed something in his hand. When he peered down, he saw the stone in his palm, gleaming brighter than ever.

"What…?"

Her eyes glowed green.

"I await your orders."

And this time, something responded.

Keichi gasped as a sharp pain hit his head, as fierce as if someone had gored it with an ice pick. He tried to scream, but couldn't, because something was worming its way up his throat, something ugly and dark and terrifying.

It reached his mouth, and he tried to gag, but the thing wouldn't let him. It crawled through his head and sat behind his eyes. And when it spoke, it used his tongue.

'At last.'

…What…?

His hand flew to his mouth, or it would have, if he could move it. In fact, he couldn't move anything. His eyes gazed down at his palm against his will, and if he could, would have widened them in horror.

The stone had embedded itself into his skin, greenish veins snaking up his arm. It hurt, it hurt badly, but more than that it was cold.

As cold as the voice that possessed him.

What? What is…What the hell is going on?!

'Pathetic little man. I am free, and have no more need of you.'

What is this? Who are you?!

'I have sat too long in your heart, listening to your drivel day in and day out. But now I finally have the strength to take control.' It flexed his hands, pulled back his lips in a grin. 'This body will serve, for now.'

No…I don't…Give me back my body!

'Silence.'

He was thrown back, back, back, into the freezing dark. His screams were swallowed up by the black, and he was falling, falling down.

Straight into the jaws of a gigantic shadowy serpent.

Yamamoto bowed her head. "Master, I am yours to command," she murmured.

The Leviathan stood, eyes glowing green. 'Bring me sustenance. Soon, we begin preparations.'

Yamamoto nodded once and disappeared.

The thing that had once been Keichi stood. Its cold eyes ran distastefully over the room, and settled on the empty bottle of sake.

Its gaze narrowed. The bottle suddenly floated upwards, then flung itself against the wall, shattering.

Still too weak…but it was no matter. It would feed, and grow in power.

And before long, I will feast upon the Pharaoh's soul.

The Leviathan threw back its head and laughed.

RN: DISCLAIMER DISCLAIMER DISCLAIMER DISCLAIMER DISCLAIMER DISCLAIMER DISCLAIMER DISCLAIMER DISCLAIMER DISCLAIMER DISCLAIMER DISCLAIMER DISCLAIMER DISCLAIMER DISCLAIMER DISCLAIMER DISCLAIMER DISCLAIMER DISCLAIMER DISCLAIMER DISCLAIMER DISCLAIMER DISCLAIMER!

*whew* I was in Fanfic prison for neglecting my disclaimers. A year long sentence, and then another three months for breaking parole (they get touchy when you join other fanfic sites - speaking of which, I've made an AO3 account!) and that was only cut short because I promised to put enough disclaimers on my next chapter to last to the end of the story, but I'm back! Yay!

-UPDATE: Since several of you have expressed concern, there is not actually a place known as fanfic prison, I just took that from Littlekuriboh's Yugioh Abridged Series. It was just an excuse for my inability to write for a full year. Please do not be alarmed at the prospect of not having a disclaimer on your stories, although it's probably still a good idea to do.

~Short chapter, I know...not nearly enough compensation for making y'all wait this long. But I figured it would be better to cut it here. I'm experimenting a little with my writing style in this chapter, so it may read better, or it may be too sparse, or there may be absolutely no change whatsoever. Tell me what you think! I appreciate any and all comments and criticism!

~It was fun writing villain parts. I'm gonna have a lot more fun with the rest of the story. I did kinda try to keep dialogue as non-cliche as possible, but it's not easy with Yu-Gi-Oh! villains, TBH.

~As I always say, reviews are what keep me going, and more than once a review has shaken me out of my writer's block, so definitely keep them coming! Review below!